Baskets Hold Weaver's Passion For Sharing Happiness

For 11 years, they have been her passion, expressions of artistry that she looks forward to sharing with patrons at Winter Park's annual sidewalk art festival.

''Baskets are things of beauty. They stand the test of time, meet the elements of good art and can be used to store fruit, knickknacks, hopes and dreams,'' said Meier, 43.

To Meier, the baskets also have been a self-fulfilling inspiration, pulling her through personal crises by introducing her to the world of art.

Before teaching herself how to mold vines and grasses, Meier was shaping students as an Ohio English teacher. She moved to Longwood in 1977 and now teaches potential artists in Oviedo.

After school Meier spends time with what she loves most -- baskets. For two to eight hours, she will soak reeds collected in nearby woods and dye them in giant steam pots at her home or in her Orlando studio. The pounds of pale fibers become rainbows of color, which she crafts into everything from garlic holders to 4-foot crates.

''I like taking a bunch of sticks and making something good of them,'' she said. Meier's desire to create beauty flows into her desire to make others happy.

''Nothing is ever a sure thing in life, but baskets give you something to hold on to,'' she said. ''I'd like to think that my talent came from reincarnation and that it is my job to take an ancient art form and share it with the future.''